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711 lines
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<HEAD>
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Exodus, Chapter I].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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</HEAD>
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC02000.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC02002.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page270"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E X O D U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. I.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have here,
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I. God's kindness to Israel, in multiplying them
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exceedingly,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>).
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II. The Egyptians' wickedness to them,
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1. Oppressing and enslaving them,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:8-14">ver. 8-14</A>).
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2. Murdering
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their children,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:15-22">ver. 15-22</A>).
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Thus whom the court of heaven
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blessed the country of Egypt cursed, and for that reason.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ex1_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Israelites Oppressed in Egypt.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1588.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now these <I>are</I> the names of the
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children of Israel, which came
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into Egypt; every man and his household
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came with Jacob.
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2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
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3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
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4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
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5 And all
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the souls that came out of the loins of
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Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph
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was in Egypt <I>already.</I>
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6 And Joseph
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died, and all his brethren, and all that
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generation.
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7 And the children of
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Israel were fruitful, and increased
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abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed
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exceeding mighty; and the land was
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filled with them.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have,
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1. A recital of
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the names of the <I>twelve patriarchs,</I> as they
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are called,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:8">Acts vii. 8</A>.
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Their names are often
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repeated in scripture, that they may not sound
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uncouth to us, as other hard names, but that,
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by their occurring so frequently, they may
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become familiar to us; and to show how
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precious God's spiritual Israel are to him,
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and how much he delights in them.
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2. The
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account which was kept of the number of
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Jacob's family, when they went down into
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Egypt; they were in all <I>seventy souls</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>).
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according to the computation we had,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+46:27">Gen. xlvi. 27</A>.
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This was just the number of the
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nations by which the earth was peopled, according
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to the account given,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+10:1-32">Gen. x.</A>
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<I>For
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<A NAME="Page271"> </A>
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when the Most High separated the sons of
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Adam, he set the bounds of the people according
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to the number of the children of Israel,</I> as
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Moses observes,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:8">Deut. xxxii. 8</A>.
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Notice is
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here taken of this that their increase in Egypt
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might appear the more wonderful. Note, It
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is good for those whose latter end greatly
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increases often to remember how small their
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beginning was,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+8:7">Job viii. 7</A>.
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3. The death of
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Joseph,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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<I>All that generation</I> by degrees
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wore off. Perhaps all Jacob's sons died much
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about the same time; for there was not more
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than seven years' difference in age between
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the eldest and the youngest of them, except
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Benjamin; and, when death comes into a
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family, sometimes it makes a full end in a
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little time. When Joseph, the stay of the
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family, died, the rest went off apace. Note,
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We must look upon ourselves and our brethren,
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and all we converse with, as dying and
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hastening out of the world. This generation
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passeth away, as that did which went before.
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4. The strange increase of Israel in Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Here are four words used to express
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it: They <I>were fruitful,</I> and <I>increased abundantly,</I>
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like fishes or insects, so that they
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<I>multiplied;</I> and, being generally healthful
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and strong, they <I>waxed exceedingly mighty,</I> so
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that they began almost to outnumber the
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natives, for the land was in all places filled
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with them, at least Goshen, their own allotment.
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Observe,
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(1.) Though, no doubt, they
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increased considerably before, yet, it should
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seem, it was not till after the death of Joseph
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that it began to be taken notice of as extraordinary.
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Thus, when they lost the benefit of
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his protection, God made their numbers their
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defence, and they became better able than
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they had been to shift for themselves. If
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God continue our friends and relations to us
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while we most need them, and remove them
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when they can be better spared, let us own
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that he is wise, and not complain that he is
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hard upon us. After the death of Christ, our
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Joseph, his gospel Israel began most remarkably
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to increase: and his death had an influence
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upon it; it was like the sowing of a
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corn of wheat, which, if it die, bringeth forth
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much fruit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+12:24">John xii. 24</A>.
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(2.) This wonderful
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increase was the fulfillment of the promise
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long before made unto the fathers. From the
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call of Abraham, when God first told him he
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would make of him a great nation, to the deliverance
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of his seed out of Egypt, it was 430
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years, during the first 215 of which they were
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increased but to seventy, but, in the latter
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half, those seventy multiplied to 600,000
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fighting men. Note,
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[1.] Sometimes God's
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providences may seem for a great while to
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thwart his promises, and to go counter to
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them, that his people's faith may be tried,
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and his own power the more magnified.
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[2.] Though the performance of God's promises is
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sometimes slow, yet it is always sure; <I>at the
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end it shall speak, and not lie,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:3">Hab. ii. 3</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex1_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex1_14"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 Now there arose up a new king
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over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
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9 And he said unto his people, Behold,
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the people of the children of Israel
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<I>are</I> more and mightier than we:
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10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them;
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lest they multiply, and it come to pass,
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that, when there falleth out any war,
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they join also unto our enemies, and
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fight against us, and <I>so</I> get them up
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out of the land.
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11 Therefore they
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did set over them taskmasters to afflict
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them with their burdens. And they
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built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom
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and Raamses.
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12 But the more
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they afflicted them, the more they
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multiplied and grew. And they were
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grieved because of the children of Israel.
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13 And the Egyptians made the
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children of Israel to serve with rigour:
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14 And they made their lives bitter
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with hard bondage, in mortar, and in
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brick, and in all manner of service in
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the field: all their service, wherein they
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made them serve, <I>was</I> with rigour.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The land of Egypt here, at length, becomes
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to Israel a house of bondage, though hitherto
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it had been a happy shelter and settlement
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for them. Note, The place of our satisfaction
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may soon become the place of our affliction,
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and that may prove the greatest cross to us
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of which we said, <I>This same shall comfort us.</I>
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Those may prove our sworn enemies whose
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parents were our faithful friends; nay, the
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same persons that loved us may possibly turn
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to hate us: therefore cease from man, and
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say not concerning any place on this side
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heaven, <I>This is my rest for ever.</I> Observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The obligations they lay under to Israel
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upon Joseph's account were forgotten: <I>There
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arose a new king,</I> after several successions in
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Joseph's time, <I>who knew not Joseph,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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All
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that knew him loved him, and were kind to
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his relations for his sake; but when he was
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dead he was soon forgotten, and the remembrance
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of the good offices he had done was
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either not retained or not regarded, nor had
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it any influence upon their councils. Note,
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the best and the most useful and acceptable
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services done to men are seldom remembered,
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so as to be recompensed to those that did
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them, in the notice taken either of their
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memory, or of their posterity, after their
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death,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+9:5,15">Eccl. ix. 5, 15</A>.
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Therefore our great
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care should be to serve God, and please him,
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who is not unrighteous, whatever men are,
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to forget our work and labour of love,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:10">Heb. vi. 10</A>.
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If we work for men only, our works,
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at furthest, will die with us; if for God, they
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will follow us,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:13">Rev. xiv. 13</A>.
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This king of
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Egypt knew not Joseph; and after him arose
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one that had the impudence to say, <I>I know
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<A NAME="Page272"> </A>
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not the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+5:2"><I>ch.</I> v. 2</A>.
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Note, Those that are
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unmindful of their other benefactors, it is to
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be feared, will forget the supreme benefactor,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+4:20">1 John iv. 20</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. Reasons of state were suggested for
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their dealing hardly with Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
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1. They are represented as more and mightier
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than the Egyptians; certainly they were not
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so, but the king of Egypt, when he resolved
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to oppress them, would have them thought
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so, and looked on as a formidable body.
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2. Hence it is inferred that if care were not taken
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to keep them under they would become dangerous
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to the government, and in time of war
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would side with their enemies and revolt from
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their allegiance to the crown of Egypt. Note,
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It has been the policy of persecutors to represent
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God's Israel as a dangerous people,
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<I>hurtful to kings and provinces,</I> not fit to be
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trusted, nay, not fit to be tolerated, that they
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may have some pretence for the barbarous
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treatment they design them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:12,Es+3:8">Ezra iv. 12, &c.; Esth. iii. 8</A>.
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Observe, The thing they feared
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was lest they should <I>get them up out of the
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land,</I> probably having heard them speak of
|
||
|
|
the promise made to their fathers that they
|
||
|
|
should settle in Canaan. Note, The policies
|
||
|
|
of the church's enemies aim to defeat the
|
||
|
|
promises of the church's God, but in vain;
|
||
|
|
God's counsels shall stand.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. It is therefore
|
||
|
|
proposed that a course be taken to prevent
|
||
|
|
their increase: <I>Come on, let us deal wisely
|
||
|
|
with them, lest they multiply.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The
|
||
|
|
growth of Israel is the grief of Egypt, and
|
||
|
|
that against which the powers and policies of
|
||
|
|
hell are levelled.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) When men deal wickedly,
|
||
|
|
it is common for them to imagine that
|
||
|
|
they deal wisely; but the folly of sin will, at
|
||
|
|
last, be manifested before all men.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The method they took to suppress
|
||
|
|
them, and check their growth,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:11,13,14"><I>v.</I> 11, 13, 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
The Israelites behaved themselves so peaceably
|
||
|
|
and inoffensively that they could not
|
||
|
|
find any occasion of making war upon them,
|
||
|
|
and weakening them by that means: and
|
||
|
|
therefore,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They took care to keep them
|
||
|
|
poor, by charging them with heavy taxes,
|
||
|
|
which, some think, is included in the <I>burdens</I>
|
||
|
|
with which they afflicted them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. By this
|
||
|
|
means they took an effectual course to make
|
||
|
|
them slaves. The Israelites, it should seem,
|
||
|
|
were much more industrious laborious people
|
||
|
|
than the Egyptians, and therefore Pharaoh
|
||
|
|
took care to find them work, both in building
|
||
|
|
(they built him <I>treasure-cities</I>), and in husbandry,
|
||
|
|
even <I>all manner of service in the
|
||
|
|
field:</I> and this was exacted from them with
|
||
|
|
the utmost rigour and severity. Here are
|
||
|
|
many expressions used, to affect us with the
|
||
|
|
condition of God's people. They had <I>taskmasters</I>
|
||
|
|
set over them, who were directed,
|
||
|
|
not only to burden them, but, as much as
|
||
|
|
might be, <I>to afflict them with their burdens,</I>
|
||
|
|
and contrive how to make them grievous.
|
||
|
|
They not only made them serve, which was
|
||
|
|
sufficient for Pharaoh's profit, but they made
|
||
|
|
them <I>serve with rigour,</I> so that their lives became
|
||
|
|
bitter to them, intending hereby,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) To break their spirits, and rob them of every
|
||
|
|
thing in them that was ingenuous and generous.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) To ruin their health and shorten
|
||
|
|
their days, and so diminish their numbers.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) To discourage them from marrying, since
|
||
|
|
their children would be born to slavery.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) To oblige them to desert the Hebrews, and
|
||
|
|
incorporate themselves with the Egyptians.
|
||
|
|
Thus he hoped to cut off the name of Israel,
|
||
|
|
that it might be no more in remembrance.
|
||
|
|
And it is to be feared that the oppression
|
||
|
|
they were under had this bad effect upon
|
||
|
|
them, that it brought over many of them to
|
||
|
|
join with the Egyptians in their idolatrous
|
||
|
|
worship; for we read
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+24:14">Josh. xxiv. 14</A>)
|
||
|
|
that
|
||
|
|
they served other gods in Egypt; and, though
|
||
|
|
it is not mentioned here in this history, yet
|
||
|
|
we find
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+20:8">Ezek. xx. 8</A>)
|
||
|
|
that God had threatened
|
||
|
|
to destroy them for it, even while they were
|
||
|
|
in the land of Egypt: however, they were
|
||
|
|
kept a distinct body, unmingled with the
|
||
|
|
Egyptians, and by their other customs separated
|
||
|
|
from them, which was <I>the Lord's doing,
|
||
|
|
and marvellous.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. The wonderful increase of the Israelites,
|
||
|
|
notwithstanding the oppressions they groaned
|
||
|
|
under
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
||
|
|
<I>The more they afflicted them the
|
||
|
|
more they multiplied,</I> sorely to the grief and
|
||
|
|
vexation of the Egyptians. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Times
|
||
|
|
of affliction have often been the church's
|
||
|
|
growing times, <I>Sub pondere crescit--Being
|
||
|
|
pressed, it grows.</I> Christianity spread most
|
||
|
|
when it was persecuted: the blood of the
|
||
|
|
martyrs was the seed of the church.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Those
|
||
|
|
that take counsel against the Lord and his
|
||
|
|
Israel do but imagine a vain thing
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:1">Ps. ii. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
and create so much the greater vexation to
|
||
|
|
themselves: hell and earth cannot diminish
|
||
|
|
those whom Heaven will increase.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ex1_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And the king of Egypt spake to
|
||
|
|
the Hebrew midwives, of which the
|
||
|
|
name of the one <I>was</I> Shiphrah, and the
|
||
|
|
name of the other Puah:
|
||
|
|
16 And he
|
||
|
|
said, When ye do the office of a midwife
|
||
|
|
to the Hebrew women, and see
|
||
|
|
<I>them</I> upon the stools; if it <I>be</I> a son,
|
||
|
|
then ye shall kill him: but if it <I>be</I> a
|
||
|
|
daughter, then she shall live.
|
||
|
|
17 But
|
||
|
|
the midwives feared God, and did
|
||
|
|
not as the king of Egypt commanded
|
||
|
|
them, but saved the men children
|
||
|
|
alive.
|
||
|
|
18 And the king of Egypt called
|
||
|
|
for the midwives, and said unto them,
|
||
|
|
Why have ye done this thing, and
|
||
|
|
have saved the men children alive?
|
||
|
|
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh,
|
||
|
|
Because the Hebrew women <I>are</I>
|
||
|
|
not as the Egyptian women; for they
|
||
|
|
<I>are</I> lively, and are delivered ere the
|
||
|
|
midwives come in unto them.
|
||
|
|
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page273"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and the people multiplied, and
|
||
|
|
waxed very mighty.
|
||
|
|
21 And it came
|
||
|
|
to pass, because the midwives feared
|
||
|
|
God, that he made them houses.
|
||
|
|
22 And Pharaoh charged all his people,
|
||
|
|
saying, Every son that is born ye shall
|
||
|
|
cast into the river, and every daughter
|
||
|
|
ye shall save alive.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Egyptians' indignation at Israel's increase,
|
||
|
|
notwithstanding the many hardships
|
||
|
|
they put upon them, drove them at length to
|
||
|
|
the most barbarous and inhuman methods of
|
||
|
|
suppressing them, by the murder of their
|
||
|
|
children. It was strange that they did not
|
||
|
|
rather pick quarrels with the grown men,
|
||
|
|
against whom they might perhaps find some
|
||
|
|
occasion: to be thus bloody towards the infants,
|
||
|
|
whom all must own to be innocents,
|
||
|
|
was a sin which they had to cloak for.
|
||
|
|
Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. There is more cruelty in the corrupt
|
||
|
|
heart of man than one would imagine,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+3:15,16">Rom. iii. 15, 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
The enmity that is in the
|
||
|
|
seed of the serpent against the seed of the
|
||
|
|
woman divests men of humanity itself, and
|
||
|
|
makes them forget all pity. One would not
|
||
|
|
think it possible that ever men should be so
|
||
|
|
barbarous and blood-thirsty as the persecutors
|
||
|
|
of God's people have been,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+17:6">Rev. xvii. 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Even confessed innocence is no defence
|
||
|
|
against the old enmity. What blood so
|
||
|
|
guiltless as that of a child new-born? Yet
|
||
|
|
that is prodigally shed like water, and sucked
|
||
|
|
with delight like milk or honey. Pharaoh
|
||
|
|
and Herod sufficiently proved themselves
|
||
|
|
agents for that <I>great red dragon, who stood
|
||
|
|
to devour the man-child as soon as it was born,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:3,4">Rev. xii. 3, 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
Pilate delivered Christ to be
|
||
|
|
crucified, after he had confessed that he
|
||
|
|
found no fault in him. It is well for us that,
|
||
|
|
though man can kill the body, this is all he
|
||
|
|
can do. Two bloody edicts are here signed
|
||
|
|
for the destruction of all the male children
|
||
|
|
that were born to the Hebrews.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The midwives were commanded to murder
|
||
|
|
them. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The orders given
|
||
|
|
them,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
It added much to the
|
||
|
|
barbarity of the intended executions that the
|
||
|
|
<I>midwives</I> were appointed to be the executioners;
|
||
|
|
for it was to make them, not only
|
||
|
|
bloody, but perfidious, and to oblige them to
|
||
|
|
betray a trust, and to destroy those whom
|
||
|
|
they undertook to save and help. Could he
|
||
|
|
think that their sex would admit such cruelty,
|
||
|
|
and their employment such base treachery?
|
||
|
|
Note, Those who are themselves barbarous
|
||
|
|
think to find, or make, others as barbarous.
|
||
|
|
Pharaoh's project was secretly to engage the
|
||
|
|
midwives to stifle the men-children as soon
|
||
|
|
as they were born, and then to lay it upon
|
||
|
|
the difficulty of the birth, or some mischance
|
||
|
|
common in that case,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+3:11">Job iii. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
The two
|
||
|
|
midwives he tampered with in order hereunto
|
||
|
|
are here named; and perhaps, at this time,
|
||
|
|
which was above eighty years before their
|
||
|
|
going out of Egypt, those two might suffice
|
||
|
|
for all the Hebrew women, at least so many
|
||
|
|
of them as lay near the court, as it is plain
|
||
|
|
by
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+2:5,6"><I>ch.</I> ii. 5, 6</A>,
|
||
|
|
many of them did, and of
|
||
|
|
them he was most jealous. They are called
|
||
|
|
<I>Hebrew midwives,</I> probably not because they
|
||
|
|
were themselves Hebrews (for surely Pharaoh
|
||
|
|
could never expect they should be so barbarous
|
||
|
|
to those of their own nation), but
|
||
|
|
because they were generally made use of by
|
||
|
|
the Hebrews; and, being Egyptians, he
|
||
|
|
hoped to prevail with them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Their pious
|
||
|
|
disobedience to this impious command,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
<I>They feared God,</I> regarded his law, and
|
||
|
|
dreaded his wrath more than Pharaoh's, and
|
||
|
|
therefore saved the men-children alive. Note,
|
||
|
|
If men's commands be any way contrary to
|
||
|
|
the commands of God, we must obey God
|
||
|
|
and not man,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:19,5:29">Acts iv. 19; v. 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
No power
|
||
|
|
on earth can warrant us, much less oblige us,
|
||
|
|
to sin against God, our chief Lord. Again,
|
||
|
|
Where the fear of God rules in the heart, it
|
||
|
|
will preserve it from the snare which the inordinate
|
||
|
|
fear of man brings.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Their justifying
|
||
|
|
themselves in this disobedience, when
|
||
|
|
they were charged with it as a crime,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
They gave a reason for it, which, it seems,
|
||
|
|
God's gracious promise furnished them with--that
|
||
|
|
they came too late to do it, for generally
|
||
|
|
the children were born before they came,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
I see no reason we have to doubt the truth
|
||
|
|
of this; it is plain that the Hebrews were
|
||
|
|
now under an extraordinary blessing of
|
||
|
|
increase, which may well be supposed to
|
||
|
|
have this effect, that the women had very
|
||
|
|
quick and easy labour, and, the mothers and
|
||
|
|
children being both lively, they seldom needed
|
||
|
|
the help of midwives: this these midwives
|
||
|
|
took notice of, and, concluding it to be the
|
||
|
|
finger of God, were thereby emboldened to
|
||
|
|
disobey the king, in favour of those whom
|
||
|
|
Heaven thus favoured, and with this justified
|
||
|
|
themselves before Pharaoh, when he called
|
||
|
|
them to an account for it. Some of the
|
||
|
|
ancient Jews expound it thus, <I>Ere the midwife
|
||
|
|
comes to them they pray to their Father
|
||
|
|
in heaven, and he answereth them, and they do
|
||
|
|
bring forth.</I> Note, God is a readier help to
|
||
|
|
his people in distress than any other helpers
|
||
|
|
are, and often anticipates them with the blessings
|
||
|
|
of his goodness; such deliverances
|
||
|
|
lay them under peculiarly strong obligations.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. The recompence God gave them for their
|
||
|
|
tenderness towards his people: <I>He dealt well
|
||
|
|
with them,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, God will be behind-hand
|
||
|
|
with none for any kindness done to his
|
||
|
|
people, taking it as done to himself. In particular,
|
||
|
|
<I>he made them houses</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
built
|
||
|
|
them up into families, blessed their children,
|
||
|
|
and prospered them in all they did. Note,
|
||
|
|
The services done for God's Israel are often
|
||
|
|
repaid in kind. The midwives kept up the
|
||
|
|
Israelites' houses, and, in recompence for it,
|
||
|
|
<I>God made them houses.</I> Observe, The recompence
|
||
|
|
has relation to the principle upon
|
||
|
|
which they went: <I>Because they feared God,
|
||
|
|
he made them houses.</I> Note, Religion and
|
||
|
|
piety are good friends to outward prosperity:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page274"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
the fear of God in a house will help to build
|
||
|
|
it up and establish it. Dr. Lightfoot's
|
||
|
|
notion of it is, That, for their piety, they
|
||
|
|
were married to Israelites, and Hebrew
|
||
|
|
families were built up by them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. When this project did not take effect,
|
||
|
|
Pharaoh gave public orders to all his people
|
||
|
|
to drown all the male children of the Hebrews,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+1:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
We may suppose it was made
|
||
|
|
highly penal for any to know of the birth of
|
||
|
|
a son to an Israelite, and not to give information
|
||
|
|
to those who were appointed to throw
|
||
|
|
him into the river. Note, The enemies of
|
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the church have been restless in their endeavours
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to <I>wear out the saints of the Most
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High,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:25">Dan. vii. 25</A>.
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But <I>he that sits in
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heaven shall laugh at them.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:4">Ps. ii. 4</A>.</P>
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